Highlights
- Open-world stealth games have gained popularity in recent years, proving that exploration can still be part of the stealth genre.
- Games like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands and Watch Dogs 2 offer players the freedom to approach situations from various angles, adding to the open-world experience.
- While not entirely open-world, games like Dishonored 2 and Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain provides players with the ability to explore smaller areas connected to create a detailed and immersive city.
When the thought of stealth comes to a player's mind many assume that these games will be mission-based with little room for exploration. However, in recent years this has been proven to not be the case as an assortment of open-world titles have embraced stealth gameplay.
5 Best PlayStation Vita Stealth Games, Ranked
The PS Vita may not have caught on like its predecessor, the PSP, but it still had some great stealth games in its library.
The number of open-world stealth games has only grown since then, with many players wondering which of these titles is truly the best for those looking for an open-world game where staying in the shadows is key. Out of all the games available, these few are by far some of the best open-world stealth games a player should try if they haven't already.
Updated on November 24, 2023, by Megan Smith: Open-world stealth games especially stealth games have been incredibly popular over the years. Having the freedom to explore a vast world while also having viable hiding spots creates a detailed world in which players can explore and use their surroundings to their advantage. For a title to be deemed open world, it usually means a player is able to freely explore the location and therefore choose alternative ways of dealing with an objective. This can especially be seen with games such as Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, where players are free to approach a situation from various angles instead of just straight ahead. This sort of freedom was heavily considered when looking at the best stealth games that allow the player to explore an open world.
8 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands
Metascore: 70
While there are plenty of intense guns-blazing moments in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, the game is a stealth title through and through. As the player creates their own Ghost, they are free to decide their own playstyle though the most common way of playing is staying in cover to hit the target by surprise. Noise is an important factor for players to consider while playing too, as a sniper rifle even with a suppressor, can be loud. Certain mechanics felt they were missing from the original title, such as knife takedowns, which would've made stealth even better.
Grouping up with three friends may arguably be harder to stealth, but it also means that players can plan how they are going to attack and therefore pull off some organized takedowns. With the whole of Bolivia to explore in a variety of vehicles, players will find a lot to uncover both on land, in the air, or in the water.
7 Watch Dogs 2
Metascore: 82
Watch Dogs 2
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Released
- November 15, 2016
- Genre(s)
- Open-World , Action , Adventure
Usually, hackers tend to stay in the background, blending with the normal crowd to avoid getting caught, Watch Dogs 2 is another game in the series that allows players to use their hacking skills to deal damage while staying hidden.
Playing as Marcus and exploring the technologically advanced city of San Francisco means there will be plenty of occasions when players will be able to put their hacking skills, and the other advanced devices they own to the test. Be it for main campaign missions, or to help people around the city. Using a small drone to scope out a location before heading in will make sure players are prepared for what's ahead, though remaining out of sight is still for the best.
6 Horizon: Forbidden West
Metascore: 88
While Horizon: Forbidden West may not be predominantly a stealth game, players are given the freedom to choose their own playstyle through the various skill trees from which the player has to choose their abilities. When facing smaller foes, or especially human outposts, stealth is sure to become the player's best friend, especially when using skills that increase stealth damage.
Best PSP Stealth Games, Ranked
Players had a handful of excellent options to choose from when it came to stealth games on the PSP.
As a skilled hunter, Aloy can blend easily into the tall grass to hide from humans or machines, alike, before striking and then retreating into the foliage. Combining this with the vast environment to explore the West in Horizon makes for an interesting adventure where players will need to make the most of their surroundings in the hope of surviving.
5 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Metascore: 84
Although Deus Ex: Mankind Divided may not have the largest open-world on the list, there is still an incredible cyberpunk city for players to explore while they take control of Adam Jensen. As a Covert Operative Adam is forced to navigate in a world that now despise his kind all while finding the answers to the greatest mystery of the city.
While some players may argue that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is arguably more of an action game than a stealth one, the ability to sneak up on unsuspecting enemies or hack into something to bypass scenarios makes Deus Ex feel like quite the Sci-fi spy movie. Players may challenge themselves by attempting to defeat a room of enemies without firing a single bullet as they leap above or crawl below to get the upper hand.
4 Dishonored 2
Metascore: 88
While Dishonored 2 may not be entirely open-world like other titles here, players still have the freedom to explore small areas of a map that all connect to make the city of Karnaca. The gritty and gloomy atmosphere of Dishonored matches nicely with the stealth gameplay players can get involved with that can make a difference to their ending.
Dishonored 2 is more than simply sneaking past enemies, as the player isn't just a simple mortal. Through the powers gifted to them by The Outsider, players can use various methods to sneak past. For example, Blink may allow a player to teleport to a roof and therefore be out of sight of others, while Shadow Walk transforms the player into a literal shadow that the enemy may find hard to spot.
3 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Metascore: 93
Like any great Metal Gear Solid game in the series Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is no different for providing players with the stealth tactics needed to complete even the most dangerous of missions. However, unlike the other games that have set mission areas, Metal Gear Solid 5 finally gives players the power to explore as they are tasked with completing open-world missions that encourage players to find their own path.
Best Stealth-Based RTS Games, Ranked
These stealth-based RTS games are some of the best that the genre has to offer.
Sneaking the entire way to an outpost is only one of the challenges of the open-world Metal Gear Solid title, but then making it inside is completely something else. While players may be tempted to kill any enemy they approach, it's a safer option to use the stealth mechanics available to them to hide around corners or crawl across the floor to avoid bloodshed and simply find the intel. With the possibility of approaching from different angles adds variety and another challenge to stealth.
2 Batman: Arkham Knight
Metascore: 87
Another gaming franchise like Metal Gear Solid that has kept players hooked with its stealth is the Batman: Arkham series. While the likes of Batman Arkham Asylum have players only exploring a small island, Batman: Arkham Knight gives players the freedom to explore the entirety of Gotham while keeping stealthy as The Dark Knight himself.
As the game finally concluded the trilogy, Arkham Knight amazed players with not only its incredible open world and lethal stealth combat but also its amazing story that made many players wish the series would've continued. Batman may easily beat goons in hand-to-hand combat, but part of the fun of Batman: Arkham Knight is being the feared vigilante and watching his targets from above. Combining a simple crouch with the various gadgets of this hero means players can silently grapple foes and hang them from the rafters, therefore keeping the Batman Arkham franchise at the top of stealth titles.
1 Assassin's Creed Unity
Metascore: 72
Out of all the open-world titles that have been created over the years, it's of no surprise to see that the Assassin's Creed franchise is by far one of the best open-world stealth series available. While Assassin's Creed Unity may have had a rocky start, the game eventually resonated with its audience once all the bug fixes had been made.
Being able to parkour around the Revolution period of France –especially Paris– while dealing with the Templars made Assassin's Creed Unity another staple of the series, as well as one that could be enjoyed with friends. Although it may have one of the lowest Metacritic scores out of all the stealth games mentioned, Assassin's Creed and, therefore, Assassin's Creed Unity is a classic title of the franchise that heavily encourages players to remain stealthy and use their abilities such as Eagle Vision to spot their targets, hiding in plain sight is one of the best ways to survive.
